different ideas about how the deal with this uniformity is all wonderful little the rules of course tended to buy always come back to the discretion of the trial judge's said to me it's things like this could educate judges and getting them more comfortable with the idea of allowing cameras and electronic devices is critical because any rule that gets devised is always going to have built in 28 what a judge is okay with. >> getting to your point about national standards what we were reminded of by one of the judges who we have been working on is that the state courts are i guess it was justice brandeis who said the state courts are the laboratories for the judiciary and i think that's what is the idea behind we are working on right now. >> last word we finished on

time. i want to thank each of the panelists and all of you, too for your questions and comments it's been an illuminating session. many thanks. [applause] [inaudible conversations] >> now from this conference call hosted by the american bar association, the university of arizona rehnquist center and the arizona state university cronkite school of journalism. u.s. district court judge vaughn walker presents the history of cameras in the courtroom. last august judge walker ruled california's proposition 8 ban on the same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. this is 40 minutes.

>> if you could take your seats i think we are ready to get started. >> before the third panel this afternoon, we are going to have life untold is an extremely interesting and entertaining presentation on cameras in the courtroom. and it's going to be presented by judge vaughn walker of the u.s. district court for the northern district of california. [applause] >> thank you, sally. following the justice o'connor puts me in mind of that observation or remark that the great waters made during the try younce for the musical has thousands here and was asked by the producer whether she might it following maryland miller and clifton webb in a song and dance

number they thought was going to be a showstopper, he said no, mr. hart, i don't mind it at all being on a hot state. [laughter] i'm going to talk about cameras in the courtroom and how it is that they became at least in the view of some disreputable. but basically this is a look backwards it's not media so much as it is old media and a bit of history. let's start with the ninth circuit. the ninth circuit first permitted broadcast of appellate arguments even 20 minutes ago. regarded on the radical fringe of the ninth circuit, jay clifford wallace, thomas nelson and oliver kilcher allowed

c-span is with us today and three television stations to broadcast. in the years since, requests for broadcasts have been made in the ninth circuit and 365 cases. and the ninth circuit has granted 71% of those requests. these have included it would argument in a gindin rickards versus not stir, the first internet file sharing case, the california gubernatorial recall case of a native hawaiian schools case and most recently, the case that susan here in phoenix hilboldt the arizonan immigration case. in the 259 cases broadcast there have been no incidents. in light of this experience, the ninth circuit and its judicial conference in 2007 with the

lawyers and judges voting separately and both overwhelmingly voted to approve reconsideration of the circuit rule against broadcast of history court proceedings and urged the judicial conference of the united states to reconsider its opposition to a video recording and broadcast of the trial court proceedings. because the court administration committee of the judicial conference was considering a national rule at a time the ninth circuit did not implement its role or implement the sense of the judicial conference but that resolution essentially provided that in her civil jury cases of public interest that the judge handling the case

should consider the possibility of a video recording and broadcast. well, last year such a case at least in my view can along a perfect case exactly for that kind of recording and broadcasting. it is a case that arose out of an initiative in the state of california which is essentially overruled the initiative that had been enacted in response to the california supreme court decision providing that the prohibition against same-sex marriage finally did the california constitution? it was a civil case, it was a non-jury case, it was an issue of widespread public interest. it involved superable years on

the plaintiff's side ted olson and david blease, and on the side of those supporting the proposition, chuck cooper, a very known washington, d.c. lawyer. now there were some technical difficulties with considering the posting of the trial proceedings on the administrative offices website which is hosted by youtube but doesn't have the usual youtube markers on that but it is posted on the youtube server so what was at issue at that time was simply a possibility of broadcasting and posting on the internet. but simultaneous with the trial court proceedings, transmission of the proceedings to the remote courthouse is. requests had been received for the transmission to seattle,

portland, pasadena and brooklyn. there may have been others the would come along the but in any event those were the ones we were considering. the proponents claimed that the witnesses who were supporting the proposition that had been approved by the majority of the state of california would be intimidated if this posting occurred. they sought to prohibit it and i denied that motion and the petition for the right of man was taken to the circuit that delighted, then the supreme court took up the issue. and the supreme court in the case called hollandsworth verses perry and you can read what the supreme court said halted the transmission of these proceedings to the remote courthouses. it permitted of course that the transmission could be broadcast

in another courtroom and the courthouse in which the charnel proceeding bostick in place but any dissemination beyond the courthouse prohibited. and you can see some of the language of the supreme court used in that decision at least five justices used in prohibiting the transmission of these proceedings. there was a very vigorous dissent written by justice breyer and supported by four of the justices. the question is where is this repute or cameras in the courtroom come from? well, the modern disrepute i think traces to the case in the early 1960's. the prosecution of an alleged swindle by the name of billy estes who claimed in association

with the then vice president of the united states lyndon johnson, and of course was that connection that drew the public interest. in september, 1962, there was a today during a broadcast on radio and television devoted solely to the motions for the continuance of the trial and the motion to prohibit broadcasting of the trial. it was as described by the supreme court not a scene of judicial serenity. 12 cameramen were in the courtroom, cables and wires sneaked across the floor, there were microphones across the courtroom. well, the motion was granted. de turenne for the trial in september was dismissed and that was the end of the proceedings and essentially the end of the

broadcasting. the trial took place about a month later in october 22, 1962. the scene was considerably altered. this time, the boat had been constructed of the rear of the courtroom and painted to blend in with the courtroom paneling and amateur actor allowed the lines of a tv camera, an unrestricted view of the courtroom. but there was no life telecasting except for the opening statement in closing argument of the prosecution. at the defendant's request, none of the testimony was broadcast, none of the presentation of the defendant was broadcast. only the opening and closing and then when the jury verdict was returned. estes was convicted, appeals were taken to the court on successfully.

but the united states supreme court took up the case and was heard in 1965. the issue was whether estes's fair trial rights had been broadcast by the pretrial proceedings. the opinion of the case was written by justice clark. he wrote what was said to be the court's opinion although it garnered only four votes. he began by stating that it was granted on the question of whether estes was deprived of his due process right under the 14th amendment. quote, by televising and broadcasting of his trial. well, clark did acknowledge the trial wasn't broadcast but put in a slide and i am quoting, pretrial can create a major problem for the defendant and indeed it may be more harmful than publicity afforded me set the community opinion as to the guilt or innocence.

he then launched a broadside against cameras in the courtroom generally. he made references to the position against cameras in the courtroom as evidence that a fair trial doesn't tolerate the, quote, indulgence of the courtroom camera. and courtroom cameras have a cold, insidious influence on the administration of justice. actual prejudice need not be shown. quote, television by its very nature reaches into a variety of areas which may cause prejudice so that one cannot put his finger on the specific mischief and approved with particularity. television, and i'm quoting, doesn't contribute materially to the attainment of the proof. experienced teachers but there are numerous situations in which it might cause actual one fairness some so subtle as to defy the technical accused or controlled by the judge.

because of the necessity of the eight sponsorship. experience indicates that it's not only possible but highly probable that there will have a direct bearing on the juror vote to guilt or innocence. while it is practically impossible to assess the effect of television on the jury attentiveness, those of us who know the jury's realize the problem of the jury destruction. we know that the distractions are caused solely by the physical presence of the camera and its telltale red light. well, i could go on quoting justice clark. the circumstances and extraneous influences intruding upon the solemn decorum of the court proceedings and the televised trial are far more serious than in the cases involving only newspaper coverage and so forth. justice harlan wrote a temperate

occurrence and indians as in technology and their acceptance by the public the dangers clark described like in due time diminished. his vote to reverse the conviction was reversed by chief justice earl warren. his conference far less than clarks opinion is notable i think for two things. he like clark wrote his opinion wasn't based on abstract propositions or generalities, but it was based on the inherent prejudice of the televised trial because of experience, but what is this experience? that seems to animate justice clark and chief justice warren? remember this occurred -- this hearing occurred in 1965.

in the 1960's, television came into our lives at least into the public consciousness in a very dramatic way. the nixon kennedy debates, the kennedy inauguration, asked not -- ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. the glamour of the kennedy administration. curious mrs. kennedy and the president with the general in paris, the cuban missile crisis in october, 1962 which riveted us because it seemed the world was on the presence of the nuclear disaster. and at least even some's "when hell freezes over" speech to the security council and of course those events on november 22nd, 1963,.

president johnson's swearing in on their force one going back to washington. he had been sworn in bye district judge syracuse with his wife on his right and the widow of the slain president on his left. then two days later, the homicide of the alleged assassin of the president and the next day, the president's funeral, and shortly thereafter the report given to president johnson by chief justice warren of the commission report on the assassination of president kennedy. all of these events showed what seemed the time to be the enormous power and influence of television in our lives. the other notable feature i think of cheeks justice warren's opinion is the irony of his

opinions he used pictures. picture after all it's worth a thousand words, and one of the pictures he used i will show you in a moment evoked the image of this advertisement which appeared november 20 issue, the morning of november 22nd on the dallas morning news. welcome mr. kennedy, a broadside attack on the policies and it appeared a full-page advertisement in the dallas morning news on the morning of the assassination. and it just so happened perhaps a coincidence one of the photographs the chief justice used to illustrate his position was that television truck in front of the courthouse in the september proceedings wfaa tv which was broadcast affiliate of the dallas morning news.

the second influence i contend that seems the animating opinions of the justices was that like all of us, we distill our frenzy sometimes from our own past, our own experiences of perhaps a generation in which we became conscious of events and clark and more and i submit work distilling their frenzy from a generation earlier. the trial was certainly not the first notable trial to receive widespread media coverage. probably the most notable trials in the 21st century was the scopes trial in tennessee in the 1920's was a trial the was broadcast on the radio, wgn, the regal affiliate of "the chicago tribune" at least the land line for big tennessee to chicago and broadcast the trial and here you

see clarence in front of the wgn microphone, and here we have the film images from the trial itself. this of course was before the talking pictures. but here you have william jennings bryan and wouldn't you have loved to have had an audio of what they were arguing. but the real impact came just a few years later. and charles lindbergh of course the first person to fly solo across the atlantic shortly after his defeat married and

they had a child who on march 1st, 1932 was 18 months old. and a doctor with a handmade letter claimed into the second story of their home in hope will new jersey and obstructed the child. the missing child was found or was discovered -- the fact the child was missing was discovered by his nurse a woman named betty about 10:00 that evening. a search in sood and there were ransom notes left that time of the kidnapping and thereafter and an intermediary that the colonel worked with had a number of encounters with the alleged a doctor or a -- abductor or

abductors. the body of the baby was found and had been terribly abused and of course was dead. the search in sood and consumed public attention. the search for the abductor of the lindbergh baby. due course of late 1934 a german immigrant with a criminal record in his home country by the name of bruno richard was arrested and put on trial in the county courthouse in flemington new jersey. the coverage of the lindbergh kidnapping trial was a sensation. a rogers and john called it the trial of the crime of the century. h. l. mencken said was the greatest news story since the resurrection, and indeed it appears to have been a sensation. this is the scene outside of the courthouse, people trying to get in to see the trial.

>> new jersey faces questioning mysterious face is filling the courtroom, the border assistance takes down every word of the proceedings of machine, prez cables to the world centers describe the face to the court, colonel schwarzkopf and the lindbergh, colonel lindbergh, betty, the murdered baby's nurse with the defense anxious wife of the accused and nervous bruno richard the prisoner whose life is in the hands of the jury. here they are, charles snyder in the grace knute, ethel stockton, philip, robert wearing eyeglasses, gray-haired elders smith, mrs. bna smith followed by howard baker. serious faces. talking things over with his wife, edward reilly chief

defense counsel and mrs. on left with betty all faced with the tragedy told by these of little lindbergh, the first garment made by betty, the second is the shirt he wore over the first garment on the night he was kidnapped and last but not least thus leading suit identified as the one the baby war which the prosecution contends is the one turned over and return for the ransom. again in the picture she is reminded of that tragic night by the little from guard torn from his suit. he smiles as he leaves the courtroom. is he guilty or not guilty? comments by the author and words and still more words of evidence of doubt of identification and words that span oceans and continents and interest on the street from new york to timbuktu or different reporters cover the trial turned out coffee to the tune of sticking tease.

>> the defense counsel was hired and paid for by the newspapers and returned for the story. well, the news reels cameras and these images which you seem were shown in theaters across the country during the course of the trial. the news cameras were permitted in the courtroom. the judge permitted still photography and film recording in the courtroom. but he limited the coverage to the events outside of the trial itself. at least that was his order. the judge did permit the participants to reenact the events related to the trial and putting, including eyewitness testimony implicating him. >> that is the man accusing fingers pointed as the supreme

court justice and the intensely interested the jury hear witness after witness. here is the jury. 12 men and women who hold his life in their hands. study these faces. housewives, farmers, teachers, laborers, stenographers, it difficult section of american life. they alone must decide whether he is innocent or guilty. this witness, joseph, taxi driver who delivered the ransom note at hoffman said that is the man. this witness, 87-year-old german told his dramatic story. from his house leading to the home he saw the car approached like this, is better of the corner and almost upset in the ditch. they stopped, the driver blared and he points out of -- kaufman. that is the man. he told how he paid the $50 ran some. he looks directly at the

accused. john is bruno richard huffman. >> to facilitate the filming, the judge permit a sound booth -- soundproof booth to be built in the courtroom but unbeknownst to him, the crew operating the film camera in the sound proof surreptitiously recorded the trial and as a result, we have footage of some of the trial itself. the prosecutor in the case was david willis, then 39-years-old and the attorney general of the state of new jersey and interestingly enough the law firm is still a prominent law firm in the state of new jersey. the ransom money was paid in gold certificates. gold certificates which were due to be retired in april, 1933. a member of the ransom was paid in 32.

the idea being this would force the recipient to spend the money and that would facilitate tracing. the basket containing some of the gold certificates was found at his residence and here is part of his cross-examination. >> listen to the search and cross-examination. [inaudible] hispanic during the cross-examination he contradicts himself and is forced to admit that he lied.

>> [inaudible] >> we don't often have cross-examination quite like that in the courts. but obviously in the aftermath of the trial there was a widespread national reaction against cameras in the courtroom because of all of the intense emotions that the coverage of the trial had generated. bayonet it was cameron numbers 35 which stated the proceedings in the court should be conducted with dignity and decorum and taking the photographs and filming sessions of the court or recesses and broadcasting the court proceedings is inconsistent with that. well, of course, what happened

is the advance of technology. and although in the wake of the experience, 44 of the states prohibited cameras in the courtroom gradually that began to break down steve by state by state. and by 1980 many states moved to the model whereby trials could be broadcast and so the issue once again percolated up to the supreme court which visited the issue in 1981. the case arose of florida. coverage was sought by the television affiliate of "the washington post" and so the supreme court had to revisit the opinions it had issued in the speed case of 1965. and in this case, the supreme court said there was no absolute

bar to the cameras in the courtroom that cameras were not themselves inconsistent with due process and the trial rights. and as it often happens from the states, matters percolated up to the federal courts. and 1990 the federal judicial center authorized the study and a project which revisited the issue of the provision of cameras in the district court rooms and an extensive pilot project was commissioned and yielded substantial evidence that cameras could be used consistent with due process. well, that was all going along fine until this happened. and once again as the trial shifted on the issue so the o.j.

simpson experience shifted the ground with respect to the study and progress wasn't made at all on this issue in the federal courts as a result of that experience until perhaps very recently. ..

>> but when a relationship between a man and a woman becomes a sexual one, society immediately has a vital interest in that for two runs. one, society needs the creation of new life for the next generation, but secondly, society is its vital interests are actually threatened by the responsibility that an unintentional and unwanted pregnancy will mean that the child is born out of wedlock and is raised by in all likelihood its mother alone, and that directly implicates society's vital interests. that is nonsense that you can enact a proposition that walls

off the citizens of this state from a fundamental right because you're worried otherwise children might be preoccupied be issues of sexuality. that, of course, if it was a justification, it would equally warrant them in comic books, television, and other conversations with other children. [laughter] >> the first, of course, was chuck cooper representing the proponents of proposition 8, and the sons was ted olson representing the plaintiffs in the in this case, the rerespondents in the court of appeals. well, if the broadcast of the trial was different from what you've just seen, i submit the best evidence is an actual clip of the trial. what i'm going to show you is david's cross-examination of a

profession at the colleges. the issue is whether a ban on permitting same-sex couples to marry fits the professor's definition of official or state-sanctioned discrimination. >> that's what you refer to as official discrimination? >> legally enforced rules that have an effect on gays and lesbians. >> that's what you refer to as official discrimination; is that true? i'm trying to get your word. >> maybe legal is a better word. i don't know how you want to describe it. various different ways to say the same thing. >> what word would you use because i just want to use your language. >> official would be fine. >> official, okay. by official discrimination, you

mean discrimination legally enforced, discrimination by the state; correct? >> i think that's fair to say, yeah. >> now, are you aware of any of what you call official discrimination against gays and lesbians in this country today other than the don't ask, don't tell policy? >> i'm trying to think of other laws out or official policies that discriminate on that basis. obviously, what you're looking at is one thing would be the delma policy; right? >> there you go.

>> okay, so i know that's what you're getting at; right. [laughter] >> that'd be another example. >> okay, okay. >> if you're looking at adoption, some states treat heterosexuals differently than homosexuals; correct? >> i think only a couple states state why policies actually restrict adoption. now, arkansas is an example where the restriction is on unmarried couples so that could be heterosexual or same sex. >> yes, but in arkansas they put that in at the same time they put in a law that said the gays and lesbians couldn't marry; correct? >> that's correct. >> that means because gays and lesbians can't marry, by

definition they're not a married person, so they can't adopt; correct? >> that is correct, but it also applies to heterosexual couple as well. >> but they can marry. >> they have to marry in order to tonight. >> gays and lesbians can't marry, so they can't adopt; correct? >> that's the current law. >> well, i think that makes the point. all of us who have been trial judges or lawyers know that in a trial, there are those long periods of silence that occur. there's undoubtedly lots of tedium in trials. one of my colleagues has a remedy for the problem. he takes a sharp pencil, puts it on the bench, he takes his finger, puts on the eraser end of the pencil, his heel of his hand on the bench and when the

trial gets today yous, his hands fall on the pencil. [laughter] there are those moments when not much happens, and the other interesting point is the train of examination of a witness that occurs only in a trial court really doesn't occur even in an appellate court where the art is between a judge and a lawyer, oftentimes as pointed out in the panel this morning on issues that are legal in nature and which float above the kin of most people, but that's much less true in the trial court where you can see a train of argument, a train of thinking, a train of logic follows, and so if any, of course, i disclose my bias here, i think a broadcast of a trial would be even more

interesting than the broadcast of an appellate proceedings. well, there was so much interest in the proposition 8, the perry case, that several groups, not just one, but several groups did reenactments of the trial. this is an image from one of the reenactments. you can see why i'm not in favor of it -- >> [laughter] when you see who they cast as the judge. they got a transcript of the entire proceeding, and they had actors who played each of the roles, and they reenacted the trial from beginning to end, and, indeed, they've gone even a step further than a dramatic reenactment. there is a musical. [laughter]

problems of technology. [laughter] ♪ ♪ ♪ it's a brand new day ♪ with the time to be straight or gay ♪ ♪ nothing could be wrong ♪ join us for the day ♪ where nothing can go wrong ♪ nobody is watching ♪ it's time to spread hate ♪ and put it in the constitution ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ wells bible says a lot of things ♪ ♪ doesn't the bible say these ?eets ♪ -- >> well, what would you rather have people learn how the courts function? [laughter] would you rather have them listen to the musical, a reenactment or the real thing? i submit to you because we're in the center, i submit to you

that's the way things are, but would you rather have people learn what happens in courts and in trials and proceedings by these reenactments or by the real thing? i submit to you that the real thing is far better e far informative for the public and far better for teaching people how our institutions work than the kind of reenactments which we have in the prop 8 case, the judge judy's of the world. the real thing is always much better than the reenactment, so thank you very much. >> on c-span2 tonight, canada's finance minister presents the annual finance budget in the house of commons. the american lee gent discusses veterans with veteran's affairs secretary. treasury secretary timothy geithner on helping small businesses raise capital.

>> they are taking us over in 1970, what's going to happen to america? they'll own our country. that's it. we'll out of jobs. then we start whining about the mexicans. we're losing all our manufacturing to mexico. look what's happening. now we whine about the chinese and the indians. we're a country of whiners. that's what we are. we should have enough confidence that we can compete with people if we all sacrifice a little bit for the common good. >> you can watch this event

wednesday night at 8 p.m. eastern on c-span2. >> today in the canadian house of commons, finance minister jim fleerty delivered the budgetment all three parties agreed to vote against the budget. this could force the government to dissolve government and force an early election. curtesy of the national public affairs channel, this is a half hour. [applause] >> mr. speaker, today our government presents to canadians the next phase of canada's economic plan, a low tax for jobs and growth. [cheers and applause]

since 2006, our government has worked hard to deliver real benefits to canadians, real support for the challenges of the real world. we gut the gst twice from 7 to 6 to 5%. [applause] we introduced the $1200 per year universal child care benefits, established the tax free savings account, removed more than 1 million low income canadians from the tax roles. the list goes on. we delivered these benefits to support the financial security of canadian families while protecting health care and pension. in good times, in challenging circumstances, our government has made responsible choices. when times were good, we paid down debt. we strengthened our already strong financial sector. we delivered more than 120 tax

cuts for canadian workers, families, and job creator entrepreneurs and rejected calls from the opposition to impose a job-killing carbon tax. [applause] mr. speaker, most importantly, when the global recession hit, canada was able to meet the challenge head on. through canada's economic action plan, we delivered further tax cuts to help stimulate our economy. >> mr. speaker, we enhanced unemployment benefits and expanded retraining for those who hit hardest by the global recession. we also made historic investments in roads, bridges, public transit, and higher

education creating jobs across the country and building the foundation for long term growth. >> canada is emerging from the global recession as one of the world's top performing advanced economies. [applause] throughout the recession, the world looked to canada as a model and an inspiration, but still, there is more to be done. the global economy is still fragile, the u.s. and other trading partners are facing challenges. compared to other countries, canada's economy is performing very well, but our continued recovery is by no means assured. many threats remain. >> translator: in this pert of global uncertainty, our government is focused on the number one priority of

canadians. we are focused on securing our economic recovery. we are focused on improving the financial security of american workers, seniors, and families. we have are plan to achieve these goals, a plan that is working, and we need to stay on track. >> mr. speaker, the next phase of canada's economic action plan is critically important to secure our recovery from the global recession, canada needs a principled stable government. [applause] now is not the time for instability. it would make it harder for canadian businesses to plan and to expand. it would drive investment away to other countries. it would jeopardize the gains we have made. our government will provide a steady hand needed to secure our

recovery, and strengthen the financial security of canadians. we have a balanced plan to achieve these goals, a low tax plan for jobs and growth. mr. speaker, today parliament faces a choice. it is a choice between stability and uncertainty. it is a choice between principle and opportunists. our government is focused on securing our recovery from the global recession. we will keep taxes low. we will undertake additional targeted investments to support jobs and growth. we will control government spending and stay on track to eliminate the deficit. [applause] we will not cut transfer payments for crucial services

-- [applause] [applause] we will not cut those transfers for health care and education like the previous liberal government did. [applause] and we will not give in to opposition demands to impose massive tax increases. [applause] this reckless policy leads to continuing deficits and higher taxes for all canadians. it would stall our recovery, kill hundreds of thousands of jobs, and set families back. mr. speaker, sustained growth comes from the private sector. >> translator: we will help businesses to create jobs. we will not raise taxes on growth. this is a key principle moving forward in the next phase of

canada's economic action plan. i encourage all the honorable members of the house to examine in detail the comprehensive plan we are presenting today. for now, i will mention just a few highlights. >> first, our low tax plan to create jobs. since july 2009, the canadian economy created more than 480,000 new jobs. [applause] [applause] still, we remain concerned about the number of canadians looking for work. we need to keep protecting and creating jobs now. we need to keep building the foundation for long-term growth. a key part of that foundation is low taxes. our government delivered tax relief for all canadians.

through our cuts in gst and personal income tax, the average canadian family today of four is saving more than $3,000. [applause] our tax cuts are also helping employers to invest, grow, and create jobs. our commitments to low taxes is supported by a strong consensus that protecting canada's tax advantage is key to securing our recovery. it is key to creating jobs now and to ensuring long-term growth. that means greater job security for workers and greater financial security for their families. our government will preserve this advantage for canada. we will keep taxes low to keep creating jobs for canadians. [applause]

mr. speaker, even so in the current global economic climate, many businesses remain hesitant to invest and hire. now, it is time for the private sector to invest again. our government will take further action to encourage them to expand and create jobs. to encourage small business to hire new employees, we will provide a new targeted incentive. the hiring credits for small business will provide a one year ei break for some 525,000 small businesses. [applause] this measure will reduce payroll costs for new jobs and encourage hiring. mr. speaker, we will also take further action to help the manufacturing and processing sector to encourage investment and job creation. we will extend the 50% straight

line accelerated capital cost allowance from 9500 to process -- [inaudible] [applause] this will help businesses and exporters to invest, improve productivity, and stay competitive. it will generate a broad range of industries including health and paper, primary manufacturing, computers and electronics, and the automotive industry. >> translator: mr. speaker, to support the canadian forrest ri industry, we'll -- forestry industry, we'll expand the current market development programs. [applause] in addition, through a consul at a timive process involving the

aerospace industries association of canada and their member firms, we will conduct a comprehensive review of policies and programs to develop a federal policy framework to maximize the competitiveness of canada's aerospace and space industry. [applause] >> mr. speaker, beyond this, new export opportunities for all canadian businesses. canada is one of the world's great trading nations. we need to keep expanding our access to foreign markets to create new jobs here at home. our government has signed a trade agreement with eight countries, and we have launched negotiations with some 50 other countries including india and the european union.

[applause] to support these expanding trade relationships, we will modernize canada's customs tariff legislation to cut red tape making it easier for canadian businesses to compete internationally. also, we'll extend development in temporary powers to support canadian businesses in the domestic financing market for an additional year. [applause] mr. speaker, we'll enhance canada's engagement with india through stronger bilateral ties among business people, public service, researchers, and academic institutions. mr. speaker, the next phase of canada's economic action plan, the government takes further actions to support families and communities to build a higher quality of life for all canadians. we will provide greater financial security for canadians

and practical health to help make ends meet. >> translator: mr. speaker, canadians work hard looking after their families and contributing to their communities. many individuals and families have added responsibilities in caring for parents or relatives. these family care givers make special sacrifices, often leaving the work force temporarily and foregoing employment income. one may be caring for her mother just as her mother once cared for her. another may be at home full-time to look after her young son who has a disabling illness; another

may be helping his wife as she faces the challenges of ms. each family care giver is unique, but all of them are generous canadians. there are our -- they are our neighbors, our friends, our family, and they deserve some extra help. to recognize and support canadians caring for loved ones, we will establish a new family caregiver tax credit. [applause] this new tax credit will be on an amount of $2,000 and will benefit more than 500,000 canadians caring for loved ones. it will include for the first

time those caring for spouses, partners, and minor children. >> we'll take action on other fronts to help families make ends meet. for so many canadian children, involvement in the arts is a part of growing up whether it's dance or music lessons or art camp, it's a great way to make friends and develop their creativity, but for some families, the fees and other costs involved can be beyond their reach. to help parents in providing these important opportunities for their children, we will establish a new children's arts tax credit covering up to $500 per child in qualified expenses. [inaudible] [applause] [applause]

mr. speaker, in addition we will further help families make their homes more energy efficient by extending for one year the ecoenergy retrofit homes program. [applause] this will help families lower their energy bills and support jobs in home renovation. mr. speaker, we will also take action to help low-income seniors. in communities across our country, there are seniors struggling to pay their bills each month. often, they are women. often they are widowed. they worked hard their whole lives for their families and communities, but lack any pension income. to provide greater support to seniors most in need, we'll provide a top-up benefit to the guaranteed income supplement. [applause]

[applause] this new measure will be for single seniors and $840 per year for senior couples. mr. speaker, it includes the financial security of 680,000 canadians who helped build their country who helped them live their senior years in dignity. >> translator: mr. speaker, our government will also provide additional health to canadians saving for retirement including self-employed canadians through a new low-cost pension option. we will work with our

preventional and territorial partners to have interest in the pension plan as soon as possible. federal, preventional governments are working for modest enhancement to the canada pension plan. any changes to the cpp will require a consensus among governments and reflect the need to protect canada's economic recovery. >> mr. speaker, as i mentioned earlier, through canada's economic action plan, we implemented the largest investment in infrastructure in over 60 years. [applause] going forward, we will work with the provinces, the territories, the federation of canadian

municipalities and other stake hold everies to develop a new long-term plan for public infrastructure. we'll also introduce legislation to confirm permanent funding for municipal infrastructure through the gas tax fund. [applause] [applause] this will ensure a stable and predictable source of revenue for the renewal of local infrastructure to improve the quality of life in our cities and towns. mr. speaker, our government will also take action to strengthen rural and remote communities. the number of doctors and nurses in canada has in connection withed in -- increased in recent years, but canadians in some regions of the country continue to experience a shortage. we will help address this problem by forgiving a portion of federal student loans for new

doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners who agree to practice in underserved rural or remote areas. [applause] [applause] mr. speaker, we will provide $55 million over the next two years to support programs for aboriginal communities across the country including those in the territories. these investments include support to assist first nations to upgrade and replace their essential fuel tanks on reserves. [applause] mr. speaker, we will also take action to support volunteer fire fighting services in rural areas. [cheers and applause] [applause]

[cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] coal tier fire -- volunteer firefighters offer their time to provide a crucial service. as we were reminded days ago by the tragic fire in ontario, they are also willing to sacrifice their lives to protect others. we will -- [applause] we will recognize the importance of this noble, necessary work and help sustain volunteer fire departments by establishing a new volunteer firefighters tax credit. [applause]

mr. speaker, in addition to these concrete measures to strengthen communities, our government will keep investing in the knowledge and skills canadians need to prosper over the long term in the global economy. since 2006, we have made major investments in research and development in post secretary education and skills training. as noted in the recent issue of the chronical of higher education, canada is increasingly attracting top talent from all around the world. canada has gone from brain drain to brain gain and the world is taking notice. [applause] >> translator: mr. speaker, in supporting research and development, our goal is to promote innovation, and ultimately to create good new jobs for canadians.

in the next phase of canada's economic action plan, we will build on our successful up vestments -- investments so far. we will establish additional canada excellence research chairs. we will invest in world class research through support for the perimeter institute, brain canada, and the institutes. we will extend advanced research funding to students and researchers at canada's colleges and polytech nicks. we will establish 30 industrial research chairs in colleges across canada. we will also provide new support for joint commercialization

projects between colleges, universities, and companies. [applause] alongside our investments in research and development and in higher education, our government has also made substantial investments in skills training. our goal is to help canadian workers reach the next stage of their careers and to seize new opportunities in the years to come. >> to foster competitiveness in the digital economy, we will encourage colleges to work with small businesses to accelerate the adoption of information and communication technologies. we will promote student enrollment in both secondary science, technology,

engineering, and mathematics programs. we will also provide tax relief for canadians who are required to certify their skills in carpentry, medicine, and other skills by making their examine fees eel -- eligible for the tuition tax fees credits. [applause] mr. speaker, to respond to increased demand for health in career transition through post secretary education, we will enhance the canada's student loans program for part-time students. [applause] to help older workers who may need special help to reenter the work force, we'll extend the target initiative for older workers. mr. speaker, over the past two years, work sharing has protected almost 280,000 jobs. our government will continue helping businesses to retain

employees and keep working. to continue protecting canadian jobs, we will enhance and extend the work sharing program. [applause] mr. speaker, we will also take further action to support the outstanding canadians who served our country in uniform. we will build on our continuing substantial support for career transition services through veteran's affairs canada. in addition, our support for the helmands to hard hats program helps military personnel to find work. [cheers and applause] [applause] our brave canadian veterans have earned our deepest gratitude and highest respects.

this is just one more practical way to provide the support they deserve. mr. speaker, the next phase of canada's economic action plan is designed to build on our actions so far. it is our plan to create jobs now and sustain economic growth for years to come. looking ahead, canada's leading private sector economists project steady growth over the next few years. still, the plan our government is presenting today is based on a cautious estimate of canada's economic growth in the near term. it reflects our government's consistent, responsible, and balanced approach to the economy. >> translator: mr. speaker, a key part of that balanced approach is our commitment to sound fiscal policy. among other things, sound fiscal

policy requires that we protect the integrity of the tax system as promised in the speech from the thrown last year. we will keep taxes low while taking action to close unfair tax loopholes that allow a few businesses and individuals to take advantage of canadians who pay their fair share. >> mr. speaker, beyond this, and most of all, sound fiscal policy requires that we return to balanced budgets. canada's deficit is much smaller than that of most other advanced countries. we are emerging from the global recession with the lowest net debt to gdp ratio of economies by far. [applause] even so, we must not be

complacent. we must ensure that canada remains financially sound, and we can continue building a future of hope and opportunity for all canadians. the global recession required extraordinary investments to protect canadians, to stimulate our economy, and to create jobs. canadians understand that a temporary deficit was necessary to limit the impact of the global recession in canada and all parties in parliament agreed. going forward, to secure our recovery, we must now focus increasingly on controlling government spending. we must complete the transition from providing temporary stimulus to ensuring long-term economic growth. to that end, we will continue impolicemenning our plan -- implementing our plan to the deficit and returned to balanced

budgets by 2015-16. [applause] [cheers and applause] first of all, we will complete our stimulus package as promised. secondly, we will continue specific measures to restrain the growth of government program spending. thirdly, we will complete, within the next year, a comprehensive review of government spending. this strategic and operating review is designed to realize substantial additional savings through greater efficiency and effectiveness. it will place us in a strong position to resume paying down government debt and to continue investing in priorities and supporting canadian families. >> translator: mr. speaker,

our government has laid out the next phase of canada's economic action plan, a low tax plan for jobs and growth. it is based on our extensive consultations with canadians from coast to coast to coast. it reflects their values and responds to their priorities. our plan does not say yes to every demand. it does not contain massive new spending because that's not leadership. >> leadership is about finding a balance between needs. it is about staying focused on our number one priority, securing our economic recovery by creating jobs and growth now and in the years to come. we believe that the honorable members in the opposition will

recognize that our plan addressing practice call concern -- practical concerns with responsible solutions. as i said earlier, mr. speaker, today parliament faces a choice, a choice between opportunityism or working together to secure our recovery and strengthen the financial security of cay neighed yaps. our government is focused on providing the principled, stable government our country needs at this challenging, but promising time in our history. we will keep taxes low and preserve canada's advantage in the global economy to keep creating jobs for canadians. we will strengthen the financial security of canadian workers, seniors, and families. by implementing the next phase of canada's economic action plan, we can keep building a higher quality of life for our

families and communities. by choosing to agent in the best interest of our country, we can ensure a bright future for our children and grandchildren. we invite all honorable members to support our low-tax land for jobs and growth. [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [applause] >> way to go, jimmy. >> thank you. [applause] [cheers and applause] [cheers and applause] [applause]

[applause] >> canada's opposition parties have all said they'll vote against the government's proposed budget. this will likely trigger new elections to be held in may. our coverage of canada's politics continues tomorrow as stephen harper participates in the house of commons. that's live, wednesday at 2:15 eastern on c-span2. up next, a decision affecting veterans and then timothy geithner on helping small businesses raising capital, and a discussion on how senate operates with a reform to change rules.

>> the american legion is holing its national conference this week. veteran's affairs secretary and congressman jason and the national commander. also the labor department's assistance secretary for veteran's employment in training. this is two hours. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> good morning, i'm chairman of the national legislative commission from the great department of virginia, and i call this commanders call to order.

the colors of our nation in place, hand salute. please remain standing and uncover as i call upon the american legion from the department of wisconsin to lead us in prayer. >> we pray that we come before you refreshed and with purpose as our commander and leader of this great organization brings us together as fellow veterans, as friends, and really as family. yes, lord, it is only you who continues to empower us so that no veteran is ever left behind, that we would have the zeal and the passion and the knowledge to know the issues before we go and willingly have that compassion and show a love that's unconditional for those who have and continue to wear the uniform. we now ask for your guidance and

for your presence and that all that we would do would be to your glory, that is to your life saving name as well as serving america's veterans every day. so, lord, it shall be, it shall be. amen. >> amen. thank you, chaplain. please direct your attention to the empty chair before me. a pow empty chair is placed in all official meetings of the american legion as a physical similar poll of the thousands of americans pows still unaccounted for in many wars and conflicts involving the united states of america. this is in no effort to secure the release of americans from captivity and those who died brave of -- bravely. let's rededicate ourselves for

this vital endeavor. i now call upon the chairman of the national legislation counsel, michael harris, to lead us in the national pledge of allegiance. >> i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indy -- indy visible with liberty and justice for all. >> thank you, mr. chairman. please cover. you may be seated. wisconsin endured the convention and grew up as a frontiersman from oklahoma. he now calls himself a resident of the last frontier and is helping push back the boundaries of this organization's work. as we explore the challenges

presented by dramatically changing middle east, the growing number of women veterans and domestic economy in flux, our commander is calmly guiding through his words and actions. it is my pleasure to introduce from the department of alaska, the national commander of the american legion, jimmy foster. [applause] >> thank you. [applause] [applause] >> thank you, mr. chairman. throughout its long history, the american legion is blessed with outstanding leadership, and we are fortunate to have several of our most recent leaders here today. with all of our past and national commanders, please stand for a well-deserved round of applause.

[applause] [applause] >> thank you, gentlemen, for your leadership and steadfast guidance in this organization. i would like to share with you a letter from the white house. good morning, ladies and gentlemen and members of the american legion family, i am pleased to send my warmest greetings to all those attending the american legions 51st annual washington conference. as first lady, i have no greater honor than working with our troops and veterans, and i am continually inspired by their courage and their commitment to our nation. i know for many of you, service is the air that you breathe, and your dedication to strengthening our country and your community did not end when you returned in

civilian life. for decades, the american legion has provided veterans a path back to service, helped those in need, and honored the legacy of our heroic service members. through advocacy, financial aid, and educational programs, the american legion works every day to ensure our veterans have the support that they have rightly earned. i truly believe our veterans are one of our nation's greatest resources, and i hope you know how much i value your efforts on their behalf. thank you for all that you do and for the example of service and strength that you provide. signed michelle obama, first lady. [applause] to most members of the communities, the american legion is known only by the landmarks

that are here and the local activities it pursues. in most american towns, everybody in town legion or not, will know where the local legion post is or to the american legion memorial park. they'll recognize legion blue caps in fourth of july parades or gathering. they may know about or played on an american legion baseball team. they may have herd about legion shooting sports, our boys state and girls state. every single day when i introduce myself as a national commandser, someone responds with what the american legion did for them, how our organization touched and changed their lives. we take pride in those moments. we take pride when a boy gets elected to congress.

we take pride when the pro-sponsored boy scout troupe goes to philmont. we take pride and should celebrate our successes. i would like to take this opportunity to remind us all of the least viable, but in some ways, the most valuable work that the legion family does. work that touches every veteran and every vetran's family member of the it's easy to see what the legion can do for a community, helping a veteran get benefits, helping a kid understand the government, helping the community see the value of the flag and those who defend it, yet, what most people don't know is what the legion does here in washington. sometimes we fail to recognize the good things that we do here, and as you all know, too many organizations are quick to take

credit, quick to rush to pro claim victory for their efforts, plant the flag that they brought new benefits and new programs home to their members. i think it's about time we stand up and take credit for our own actions, our words. [applause] the american legion's efforts that take place here in washington. i take great pride in the success we had during my commander's testimony in september. it wasn't because of the work of the staff. it wasn't the work because of my elegant testimony. it wasn't because we are the american legion, and we willed it to be done. it was because of your voices, your message that you carried to the hill. you came to us as mothers and

fares of our nation's heros, those who paid the ultimate sack sacrifice and given their child to our nation were not eligible for care in state veteran's homes. we took that message, the message that these gold-star parents earned this benefit to congress last fall. congress listened to you, and now these gold-star parents have the opportunity for quality nursing care. [applause] . .

credit, but you people made that happen. [applause] congress wanted to pass the defense authorization act that included language related to immigration, abortion, pretty much everything but defense. you came to town, set them straight and got a clean bill passed. the resolutions call for the increase in the burial plot allowance, great care for our homeless veterans and the

improvement of compensation and pension benefits. you came, conagra's listened and the veterans omnibus benefits act passed. we as the american legion family protested when congress attempted to create an amnesty program through the passage of the gerry. your e-mails and call smattered and that failed. it may not be easy to see these successes in your community when you return home. it may not be easy to celebrate these successes but these efforts and your voice is individually do matter. you make an impact when you come to washington and make a difference when you speak to your congressmen and senators. you are the voice of the american legion and your voice is the voice that rings in the halls of congress and get things

done. your voice is have tremendous impact not just on a single veteran or military family, not just on a group of schoolchildren, not even on the 2.4 million members of the american legion family, but the entire american legion community of veterans and service members. millions upon millions of people are impacted sometimes dramatically of always beneficial. but what is done here by the people in this room. be proud of your accomplishments because after all, you are the movers and shakers who made them happen. you are the people riding american history. thank you very much. [applause]

one of the more power for voices in washington, d.c. because a few hours strong grassroots presence across the nation depend on you to help make sure the nation does right by them. i don't want to tell you what makes the wheels court on is not the actions of the national staff lobbyists and the relationships before with members of congress and their staff it's a grassroots presence and that presents runs through the national legislative council. the national legislative council was created by the national executive committee of 1975 to amplify the grassroots voice by providing a strong one on one liaison between all the members of the united states congress. bye design for legislative council in the network of politically active legionnaires who aided the organization's lobbying efforts.

one liaison for each congressional district in each center counsel is appointed by the national commander upon the advice and recommendation of the department leaders the national vice chairman from each department, the council takes the direction from the national legislative commission. each year we present an award to the council member who has consistently exhibited continuing leadership and excellence in the support of the objectives of the american legion, someone who takes time from the busy life to sound our rallying cry to america's veterans. they cannot we speak for themselves. this year i'm proud to present this honor to kenneth governor, the retired u.s. army maj he serves it was the vice chair of the department of new york's legislative council and as legislative liaison to senator kristen jul brand as a member of the council.

as vice chairman of the department council member rose will encourage them to both maintained nurtured close personal working relationship with congressional members and to communicate with them on a frequent basis concerning the american legion legislative goals and objectives. he also demonstrates an effective ability to educate new council members. as a council member himself he is considered someone who can and will meet with and talk personally with senator jalabert and and her staff when the need arises. he developed a working relationship with the center when she worked in the house of representatives and he was an active member of the veterans advisory committee. finally, he axles in keeping close communication with the legislative division staff and providing ongoing feedback regarding collectivities and legislative contact in his department. through the commitment in the digit -- dedications please

welcome the department of new york with a slate of council member of the year major kenseth. [applause] his outstanding contribution indicated service to the national legislative council in the national legislative program of the american legion presented by the american legion national legislative commission march 21st, 2011 washington conference washington, d.c. is well-deserved. [applause]

[inaudible conversations] >> when i found out about this report about 20 minutes ago -- [laughter] i said if you are choosing me this legislative council was going to have some problems. and as the commander ride and think you guys have thought this thing through. [laughter] but i'm proud to receive this award and i'm quite overwhelmed and i accept this award on behalf of every council member in the legionnaires' auxiliary think you very much. [applause]

think you for being with us today. we greatly appreciate your continuing service. after the formation of the american legion in 1919, and number of women who have served faithfully and well during the great war, world war i wanted to continue their service by becoming affiliated with the legion. men of the legion cigar's ablaze no doubt consider the request carefully and agreed the new organization, the american legion auxiliary should be formed to engage in activities. remember this was in 1919, quote, more suitably performed by women, and of quote. [laughter] today the american legion marks of three is the largest women's

patriotic organization in existence and numbers some 850,000 members and 9,500 units across the united states of america. the mission of 1919 was to support the american legion and sacrifice of those who served by enhancing the wives of veterans, members of the armed forces, their families both home and abroad. their mission today in a vastly changed world socially and politically remains the same as with the legion we are honored to have with us today a number of past national presidents of the american legion auxiliary. ladies, would you please rise and also be recognized. [applause]

it is now my distinct pleasure to introduce you to the current national president of the american legion of summary carleen - worst from the department of texas. [laughter] [applause] >> you want to know the story behind that you have to talk to the commander. [laughter] thank you for inviting me this morning. the commanders call was not only an important component of the conference but also the auxiliaries companion awareness assembly. we were pleased yesterday to offer our members several sessions on current public policy concerns of the nation's veterans and their families

along the topics we explore what progress report from the representative of the u.s. interagency council on homelessness on the federal plan to end of veterans homelessness, presentation by the department of the veterans affairs on its every of support and services for the caregivers of the veterans and the briefing on the potential impact of federal deficits and debt reductions proposals on the national defense budgets to we also yesterday dillinger said committee chairman kathy challenged the odds of remembers to join the hilboldt today we provided an orientation to the legions legislative priorities and offered our members workshop generously organized by the legions legislative staff on the topic of advocacy from your desktop. that showcase for the joxel remembers how action on behalf of the nation's veterans and their families can and should be a year-round endeavor will just something that takes place at the annual walk.

as the legion family compressed caregivers of our veterans the auxiliaries grateful to the legion for its advocacy and support of the caregivers and dividends omnibus health services act of 2010. as doubles as important to benefits for the caregivers of the veterans. we share the concerns at the slow pace of implementation of the law and more refer the interpretation of eligibility for benefits. they look forward to bringing these concerns to the attention of our members of congress for today during the hilboldt and when a return to the communities. of course we support the recommendations for the full funding for the u.s. department of veterans affairs, used part of defense and the department of labor veterans employment and training service. they walk the halls of the

senator deily and the position that now was not time to shortchange the departments construction and research accounts. we are especially mindful of the necessity of the full funding of the department's military family support program. these programs assure that the whole family is ready to support the service members and the the family doesn't suffer or at least suffers less when the service members deployed or called up for active duty. we are also mindful of the department's proposal to increase tricare premiums on military retirees and the impact such increases may have on the pocketbooks of the veterans households. we are fully supportive of the commanders call to completely repeal the disabled veterans tax, the denial of for the reduction to the disability benefits to qualified veterans adversely affects not only the veterans but also the family member who relies on that income to meet the families living expenses and it goes without

saying that the dogs hillary continues to stand behind the legion of families longstanding effort to protect the glory through the constitutional amendment to return to congress the power to protect the u.s. flag from physical desecration that blew the pretty forward this year. [applause] the commander foster also remembers are ready willing and able to evidence of the legion family legislative priority. we pledged to continue to work together advocates for public policy that improve the well-being and quality lives for military service members, the veterans and their families. again, thank you for this opportunity to address the members of today's commanders. thank you. [applause]

[applause] >> fort jackson along with the national president and we went there with the department of south carolina on the visitation and we were out there and went on the rifle range to fly here the new m four and i had the m-16 in my younger days and the national president embarrassed me. [laughter] to say the least as a former marine and retired army soldier she shot malling direct kills out of 11 all head shots. [applause] thank you for your continuing nurture and support of the american legion.

it's time to present an award first it is my great pleasure to present the awards presenter. ronald connolly was elected the national commander of the american legion on august 28, 2002 in charlotte north carolina. he certainly earned the distinction. the national commander connolly is a veteran of the united states air force where he served as an air policeman from 1963 to 1966. it was then he joined the american legion and really went to work for us. he founded the new legion post in 1972 and served in that post for 22 years and then four years as their commander. since then he's held innumerable offices at the local, state and national levels of the american legion. his dedication to the prince's most evidence in his role as an

advocate for the wounded, injured and a disadvantage veterans. in 1988, he formed the pennsylvania american legion housing for veterans corporation. it's still a growing concern today. during his tenure as the national commander in 2003 he personally visited the va hospital across the nation and author the landmark report to congress on his findings called the system what savings to a system with saving task force members to were the va medical facilities nationwide issuing annual reports that thinks the commander connolly's pioneering effort and makes a tangible and positive difference in the service and care that our veterans receive. we are truly honored to have him with us as a man whose compassion and leadership on important social issues

affecting veterans and their families is not only his continuing legacy but ours as well. please welcome from pittsburgh pennsylvania the national commander ronald connolly. [applause] thank you very much. i truly appreciate the introduction. we are here to honor a tremendous person that serves our country as the veterans. the honoree is the third term united states congressman representing the fourth district and a small corner in western pennsylvania. before coming to the nation's

capital, he actually was a kent brockman you can see how tall he is and handsome and he was a regular track and field and football player at the high school just north of pittsburgh. he went to florida and went to florida state university where he graduated in 1990. he came back to washington, d.c. and worked as a legislative aide to the then for our congressman pete peterson he gained expertise and health care. he returned to western pennsylvania in 1998 with his recently acquired expertise to work at the university of pittsburgh medical center which compromises 20 hospitals, 45,000

employees and a 7 billion-dollar revenue each year. by 2005 he was acting vice president for a government relations and community health services. that year he was awarded the northern allegheny chamber of commerce arcadia award. and and you will honor to the local business leader who exemplifies the dedication to the community service. the next year in 2006 he ran for congress to the united states. during his short but productive congressional career, and we hope it's going to be a long one, he's introduced 37 bills or amendments that have passed the house, 24 of them have been

signed into law by the president of the united states. but what's most important was seven of those bills directly related to the veterans his commitment was from day one. not surprisingly he's also played a key role in the congressional debate over health care reform. this is all very impressive, but the primary reason we are here to honor him is for his dedication to the homeless veterans. when the congressman was running for the congress of the united states, came to a pennsylvania for the american housing for homeless veterans banquet which we hold each and every year in january. and he made a commitment and a promise that he would be there every year and he has held to that promise but what is most

striking about that and most of you know and most of you held banquets the politicians come and and they say why and then they tell you they have another important function or engagement to go to and they leave. congressman altmire said at the beginning of the program and he is of the last one to leave our program. [applause] congressman altmire made a commitment to help the american legion fight and change and give an opportunity to homeless veterans who served their country honorably but because the way the dice rolled in their life, they became homeless and he made a commitment to help make a change in their lives.

she not only did they with words, but he did it with a donation. congressman altmire donated $10,000 to the pennsylvania american legion housing for homeless veterans corporation. [applause] i am proud to present the special recognition award for the honorable jason altmire from the fourth congressional district of pennsylvania. [applause] [applause] >> in special recognition of the honorable jason altmire united

states house of representatives representing pennsylvania's fourth congressional district for his selfless donation to the pennsylvania american legion's housing for homeless veterans corporation to continue his critical mission of assisting the homeless veterans of pennsylvania. the concept for the housing for homeless veterans is simple, right a safe, clean, stable environment for the purchase of pence while they complete schooling, job training and become adequately self-sufficient to seek permanent housing in the surrounding community. the main goal for the participants is to become productive taxpaying citizens by securing good, decent jobs. over the years the corporation has had over 400 veterans go through the program within 85% success rate. in his relatively short congressional career representative altmire his interest co-sponsored and supported several pieces of legislation aimed at assisting veterans including expanding small business assistance,

expanding the family and medical leave act for military families, and improving treatment of traumatic brain injury. the american league region appreciates representative altmire's significant contributions to the success of america's homeless veterans and their families. presented in washington, d.c. at the washington conference of the american legion march 22nd, 2011, daniel wheeler national and jimmy foster, national commander. [applause] >> now that you know what the word says this is an incredible honor for me. i can't tell you how much this means to me. this isn't something i know you usually do during your convention. this is a special recognition award, so commander foster and your entire team i want you to know this is very important to me and commander conley has a friend and constituent, i know

that this hopefully will show the rest of the country and the rest of the american legion how important that program has become in the state of pennsylvania and i can tell you as a member of congress, when you have a past national commander in your district and that commanders name is ron you're going to pay attention to the american legion. no question about that thank you. [applause] thank you for your advice and consultation and that has led to my interest in the homeless veterans program and of course you can spend your time in any number of ways when you're in congress and like a lot of people in a bipartisan way, i've chosen to dedicate my time to making sure hour veterans are taking care of and we are supporting our troops, and that is a bipartisan across the ogle motivation for all of congress. we work together on that and in pennsylvania, we have this unique program of the homeless

veterans project which the commander initiated and continues to carry forward and the reason i took a special interest and that is because when you talk a bill supporting our troops and to talk about the men and women when they return home and making sure they are cared for we always as a country seem to talk about the same things. we talk about traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, amputations, the family aspect being away from your family if you are in the guard or reserve, the employment situation, making sure that the business can carry on without you, making sure when you return the job still there making sure the bonus that you have earned and deserved is awarded and you get to keep every penny all of these are important and all of them are in the national dialogue but homelessness has until very recently always been one of those issues people simply don't want to think about that. i don't want to talk about that. but because of you, because of

the people in this room, that's no longer the case. the president of the united states, the secretary of the va and american legion chapters all across this country have made caring for homeless veterans and indeed eliminating homelessness among our veterans population to be the top priority of the va and people who care about our veterans in this country. it's no longer something we don't want to talk about, so i'm happy about this. i accepted with great gratitude to understand this is an award for you. this is your effort that made it possible because now as a nation we recognize we have a lot of work to do and we are making a lot of progress but there's more work to be done and i'm trying to do my part in a very small way but it's because of the people in this room and the people in pennsylvania who run the veterans' housing program that were making such a great strides up.

so i accept this on your behalf. thank you very much for your support, and i look forward to working with you all. thank you. [applause] .. assistant secretary for the writer is to writer is limited training, otherwise known as space at the department of

labor. the always smiling hugely energetic right is a plus point that. he natured and what else? leadership. empty time he subsequently served at the ministry officer chief leadership positions in u.s. presidential honor guard, third ranger battalion and third special forces group. we can identify close to the that face the wounded warriors because he is one. third special forces training some years ago, ray lost all five fingers on his left hand while attempting to check this by these from the prematurely detonating hand grenade. after recovery, ray went back to school with a vengeance. he moved to cambridge, massachusetts amended npa with honors at harvard's kennedy school of government and an mba from harvard business school. he then came down here is a white house fellow, served as a fulbright fellow in sync work, work at a high level of job creation position for the state

of hawaii and finally was summoned back to washington by secretary of state, colin powell to receive a percentage that fulbright alumni award for dedication to public service. he was a natural choice for his current position at the department of labor. i could race of their accomplishments, but my introduction be longer than remarks. so please welcome ray jefferson, mr. secretary. [applause] >> good morning, american legion. how are you doing this morning? are right, let me just say, commander foster, president

ashworth, commander dew, members of the legion, i'm thrilled another to be with you this morning. they also want to applaud you for your courage for bringing back a second time. even a sauna for this story about about the assistant secretary to give a keynote speech early in the morning. after a server company went back to his office, called the special assessments as his special assistant, ask you to write me a 20 minute speech in the city gave me an hour-long speech. halfway through camaro started the evening. it is a complete disaster. what happened? specialist databases are, i did write your 20 minute speech. i also gave me two extra copies since you asked for it. [applause] someone to wake up the office of p.m. last night to do with the

american legion, our nation's oldest and first veterans service organization. [applause] i have to ask this question. how many army veterans of a hat morning? navy quiets air force? marines? coast guard? all right, i'm glad i don't have to stay here in spirit. i like to share issue choral services let it. the reputation being the fastest indian generals in the army is not a a value at intrudes on maneuvers monday when a friend of the settlement came by by to visit. they were friends early careers. the admirals on shortly. the admirals talking to the general said general, i'm

psyched to tell you i have the most courageous men and women on the high seas. the general says well, i'm very happy for you. at the most courageous men and women on land. the admirals is holed up, we've known each other a long time. and they are just a mac as i said it first. you can't prove that. the generosity don't think so, watch this. because of her our presidents had to sit the tank moving from site to site? privette said yes or. i want you to read archie to tank, jump in front of it and could see nothing but your body. the predecessor companies got to be kidding me. there ain't no way onto a map. you can't come up with a new plan. the pilot took off running. the general terms the admirals a d.c. come it takes a lot of courage to talk that way to a general. [laughter] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, i'm thrilled and honored to be with you this morning.

we are here together about a year ago. i want to also acknowledge you have a great team and your economics committee led by joe sharp and bob. where is bob at? you have a great economics team. last year when we were here, we talked about the challenges and the veterans employment. quickly before a segue into bloomington last year, just bring your attention to the right side of the room. i want these two ladies to raise their hands. these are two members of my team who are both veterans, but also what i call super veteran. both of these ladies are graduates of the u.s. military academy at west point. give it up. [applause] rachel, go ahead and raise your hand. rachel and the right side also is a masters degree in leadership coaching from georgetown university.

she was a general officer appeared on last night nancy, a military police officer, catastrophically injured in the jump of 100% paralyzed in a wheelchair with incredible willpower and truly a lot of prayers and miracles she was blessed to have a miraculous recovery, went on to law school, served as an executive with the careless parents of america. she is now a director of strategic outreach. rachel is their chief people officer. please welcome them to the american legion family. [applause] [applause]

thank you, ladies and gentlemen for that very warm introduction. one must joke. [applause] and then some lessons from the joke. it's about a businessman who is visiting new york city. and he can't testify to europe to check on some of the separation they are. so he walks into a bank, asks to see the loan officer and says they need a loan for $5000. the loan officer officers of parliament that size, wanted some collateral. so the businessman pulls out the keys to his current figures the keys to make renewables race parked right out front. the loan officer take the keys can get some paperwork. the businessman fills out paperwork and everything checks out. he gives in his phone for $5000, takes the keys condescend to a bank employee. the blake employee perks it up

back in the parking grudge. the businessman goes up for a few weeks, comes back and asked if you're not sensitive thank you very much. hairshirt $5000, thank you very much. the loan officer says not so fast. when you work on, we did some research on you when we realized that you're actually a multimillionaire. zero the multimillionaire need a loan for just $5000? the businessman that down and said i didn't get to be a multimillionaire without having some foresight and creativity. how else do it two weeks of secure parking in new york city for only $15? [laughter] [applause] the commanders that that was good, so i think and they put us on the calendar for next year. ladies and gentlemen, i wanted to come ctu today that we cannot

have transformational outcomes in and kept for veterans and less to become transformational organization. but cannot the massive transformational individuals via that's one of the reasons rachel bellamy over there, chief police officers making sure that each member of the victim is growing and releasing his and her potential. for sending creativity is what will be required to effect meaningful employment in today's economy for veterans, for servicemembers, first buses. we do three primary things that is. we prepare servicemen and women for meaningful careers. we provide access to meaningful careers to servicemembers family protect those -- that access those rights. we prepare them, provide access and we protect. last year i talked about the fact that the program has not been modernized in 18 years. 186 power point slide in and

maintain your curriculum. i don't care how many jokes you have. it can only do so much with hundred 86 powerpoint slides. we reached out the bigger were the smartest, most effective programs and people in a nation and create transition? annuity in the world? and busier we are transforming and redesigning this program to the ground. for the first time ever, will have pre-work. before you come to town, to take assessments. to take assessments to determine how ready you were for an appointment for much interest there. then we'll bring it to the program with other people who have the same transition needs. then we're going to bring a new best content, like how to credit a charisma life plan, networking, storytelling cannot convince employers to the right person for the job.

stress reduction training, mental resiliency techniques, how to transition from military to civilian work environment. we're going to get away from the powerpoint slide and coach but we'll know in the military, learning by doing, the adult learning best practice. we're going to do something that's never been done before. after tab support. how many of you have bought a top in the last two years or some device he spent a lot of time on the phone the next couple weeks. i secretly and shaking her head, talking to tech support. well, that's where they do it. for about 60 days after he servicemembers finishes top, he or she will be able to make a phone call or go online to get customized coaching to implement an action plan that they create. never been done before. [applause]

we are going to have an entire program online. so any of you, any employees do you have, any veteran, any spouse will access the robust online platform of the content will be online. for the first time, were going to measure the result. 1.7 million people come to tap in the last 19 years. gina how much feedback we have and how to inform the database? were going to get feedback and performance networks with a graduate, when they apply what they learn them when they get the job. that's overdoing. my goal is to have this fully implemented by veterans day. that's overdoing to prepare servicemen and women for meaningful careers in the 21st century. we're going to make sure spouses are aware that they can use this program. we're going to be a partnership with the military spouse employment program, which has gotten jobs for 90,000 spouse

says. [applause] we can't do this work alone. we need you, the american legion and the other pss to help us. i know secretary shinseki will be here shortly. report from hawaii. he is a major source. join us at the va, d.o.t., privacy or the h.r. community. this is not just vets appear. this is one team doing great things. let's talk about providing access to meaningful careers. we used to meet with employers one at a time. when you wonder how long it can take to set up a meeting. now we started a partnership with the u.s. chamber. we did phase one in july of last year in 14 states, where for the first timer state direct heirs

are being invited to address rooms full of employers, 100, 200, 300 at a time in about 45 days we reached 1500 employers last year. how long would it have normally taken to do that same thing? now, but they speak to this week, we will face when the pilot, whether it be worked on the top 100 chambers of commerce in the nation were launching this is thursday in chicago. i believe bob will be there representing you well. we have over 100 employers confirmed to come in higher veterans. there's a waiting list for them to get in the door. we have over 500 veterans confirmed. [applause] retail and employers, you come to higher on the spot.

this is a hiring fair and this is the first. we are indeed be found with the other 99 top chambers in the nation. this is phase two. we're going to ask for your help as we do to make hiring affairs to get the word out. jo sharp was very helpful to help us get the word out to veterans. we're going to be asking you to help us as we go through the other 99 hiring affairs. we'll be asking you to give some of the employers they are. i found all this information out. nancy, racer and again. you will get this information through joe sharpe. we'll be asking for your help. we're also forming a similar partnership. number two, job quarter. our young veterans, 20 to 24 had the highest unemployment of any cohort. giving them round-trip

transportation, housing, meals, everything provided correct customized through training certificate and 21 the postemployment support. we have over 100 -- will take that. [applause] thank you. we have over 100 veterans. we have space for 200 more in the pilot. i ask for your help. hope is the word out to young veterans. we've said this information to you in the past. you have helped us get to over 100. can you please help us get to 300? the number one source of information on how people signed up for this pilot his family and friends. he well could be incredibly helpful to us in this area. commander, i'm going to ask nancy to resend her mission to

today. if you see what considered this deletion. i can think of no greater source of communication to young veterans and the family and friends of the american legion community. i ask for your assistance humbly. [applause] you know, it's great that we've been come to a national conference in washington d.c. we need to remember that in america, 17% of americans live in rural america, but 37% of veterans live in rural america. for a long time, veterans from rural america have been underserved when it comes to employment. we realized this last year when we launched a pilot program in washington state, a very innovative partnership, will commit veterans service

organizations, state government teams, corp. for community service, were the first time we get boots on the ground in rural america. we're calling and contacting veterans of america is the duty on employment services? when they say yes, we're right there knocking on their door, giving them one-on-one coaching and services. never been done before. let me tell you something, folks. we were hoping to have a 10% participation rate. our participation rate is in excess of 90%. [applause] we would like to move this to the six states and afterwards make the national initiative. we are constrained by resource, but as i talked before about for sending creativity, we have a few ideas. so will be working on those.

you can't let it get program like that type. and especially when it costs almost $0 to implement. but they also say in terms of providing access that we are completely supportive of the inspiring vision that secretary should psyche has laid out for all of us roughly a year and half ago offending veterans homelessness in five years. we were part of that. we contribute to the immigration program. we have incarcerated veterans program as well to reduce recidivism among her formal incarcerated veterans to give them a second chance in life. we also have a green jobs training program. prepare, provide, protect. i'll conclude with protected by just saying that we've done a process assessment of our

employment rates program. it's very paper centric. if nonautomated. it doesn't use the best elegy. it's for bringing in best practices, for automating it, developing case management. i'll be a better customer service and continue to look for ways to become more effect than the application of employment rate. you can do operate things, but people who are not in this room don't know about the value of hiring veterans. it's hard to have transformational impact. that's why we are working with "fortune" magazine and "forbes" magazine in business week to have articles that will be covering the value of hiring the veteran and how to find veterans

which are the most widely read subscriptions by ceos in america. i'm so glad that last year fortune mag put a veteran on its cover for what i believe is the first time in history to notch his veterans. if you can see this in the back, a woman veteran as well. clap back [applause] we've got a commitment from business week to do two sections on federal employment this year. that's 30 million people who will see each of those. with a commitment from "forbes" to do one more. we're working with the entertainment industry foundation in hollywood to do a make a event veterans day this year. hoping to pair with the inspiring messages about them that. why towered them, how tired them. all of his is a big part of our emphasis on raising awareness in

our nation about the value of hiring our veterans. so let me conclude a sharing a few things. i hope you find it hangs we're doing to be the right things. i didn't prepare a speech for my time today. i just wanted to give you enough date. president woodrow wilson said, we're not here merely to make a living. we are here to enable the world to the more amply with craters. and put a sense of hope and achievement. we are here to improve the world and we impoverish ourselves if we ever forget that kerry and.

members of the american legion, you have always remembered that noble errand. you remind us of our values and who we are. you remind us of the service and sacrifices that have been required for us to get here. you remind us of who and what we have potential to become. woodrow wilson office had, commander, to be wrote great player dreams. all great men and women are trimmers. they see things in a soft case for spring day for the red fire of a long winter's evening. some of us thought these great games die, but others nourish and protect them.

they are sent to the bad days until they merge into the sunshine and light, which comes always those who sincerely hope their dreams will come true. members of the american legion, you remind us the noble dream of what our nation is, the journey that we've traveled, where we are going in who we can become. eleanor roosevelt said it's better to light a single candle than to curse the dark this. you the american legion is a candle that lights the way to a better america and a better future. please continue to burn three. thank you very much. [applause]

[applause] [applause] >> thank you, mr. secretary for being a dynamic young man and thank you for your continued support and service to america by helping veterans occur meaningful employment. and somebody should have got those two former soldiers over there and find out if they're a member american legion. i got a thumbs up. all right, there we go. thank you, ladies for your service. the american legion has, since its inception, dedicated itself not only to veterans themselves, but to their families. that is one reason the sun for

the american legion was created in 1932. dsa alice made up of boys and men of all ages whose parents were her parents had served in the united states armed forces and are eligible for membership in the american legion. together members of the american legion, the american legion maxillary in the sense that the american legion makeup the entire american legion family. we all place high importance on preserving our american traditions embodies in improving the quality of life for a nation children, caring for veterans and families and perhaps most importantly, teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship but the past national commanders of the sons of the american legion please rise and be recognized to this time?

[applause] >> thank you, gentlemen. please welcome the national commander of the sons of the american legion and the great state of texas, david duke. [applause] >> morning. thank you. good morning, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests. first of may 2 thank you for the opportunity to bring greetings from the sons of american legion. we have a priority list and yes every issue is very important. it has to be addressed as though. call me greedy, call me selfish. with all the great things that have happened to me this year, from being a leg did to this great office in the lock he to being a pearl harbor with the

20 -- 120 -- over 120 survivors of that terrific attack to the land of the reason the beautiful memorials this week. i've got one more on my bucket list i call it. this being the year that the representative said senators should the right thing and pastorate resolution 13. the congress shall have physical desecration of the flag of the united states of america. [applause] and so commander boxer, i know i can speak for the sons of the american legion that we are by your side with honor and pride. thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

[applause] be mag thank you, commander dew for your dedication to the american legion family. our next speaker is his iraq name is a familiar face. that is because he is a close neighbor to rdc staff and also more importantly because he worked so closely with the american legion. he is a man who i can't note earlier this year has been met in his office for 71 minutes. just around the corner from our d.c. headquarters to discuss issues that can turn to veteran and issues of aaron to the agency that he is now leading. he's in 1965 graduate of west

point, going on to complete 38 years of honorable military service in the united states army, including two combat tours in the republic of vietnam and culminating in his career at the army's chief of staff, the highest office in the army from night to 99 to 2003. he is shown himself to be a true band of veterans and sincerely wishes to do good, good and cooperative work with veteran service organizations in general and in particular with the american legion. it is my honor to introduce to you within the honorable eric k. shinseki, secretary of the department of veterans affairs. [applause]

[applause] >> jeremy, thank you earn much for the kind introduction and for the invitation to be here today. for those of us but still have teams play march madness, congratulations. for the rest of you, condolences. we'll see you next year. well, let me acknowledge or vice commanders, russell henry, jean pat to, john traber, carlos cabrillo medina, dan wheeler from your adjutant. dan dillinger coming of legislative chairman, carlene ashworth, auxiliary president, it david dew, national commanders sent to the american legion. also congratulate her on her race. i understand congressman altmire was here earlier. he and senator akaka or you will be recognizing major, each has

been a tremendous supporter in tireless worker in behalf of veterans, their families and survivors. in my opinion, there are no two more deserving members of congress for that kind of recognition. so congratulations to them once again. members of the legion, fellow veterans, other distinguished guests and they included mayor assistant secretary which ever seen. it's always tough following ray here at the podium. ladies and gentlemen, i'm honored to be here and i salute the legion's long-standing devotion to our nation's veterans. last week i attended a funeral for frank buckles, who enlisted in the army at age 16, the last on american veteran of the war to end all wars. when asked in later life, why he

lied about his age to serve in world war i. he said if your country needs you, you should be right there. that's the way i felt when i was down in the way i feel today. on the eve of battle during world war ii, marine lieutenant anthony to tora rudy's family, always pray, not that i shall come back, but that'll have the courage to do my duty. with great sadness, lieutenant to tora was killed in the battle of guadalcanal and joined what is today more than 1 million americans who have throughout our nearly 235 year history of our nation placed their most precious gifts on the altar of freedom. with your help and support, 2010 was a good year for veterans. for two years now we have been teaching three fundamental behaviors we've been after and

focusing people on three key priorities. three behaviors, three priorities, for us six simple rules that time and i'll go through them very quickly and we'll see how that trend fades to the kinds of things we are working on. three behaviors sound like bumper stickers, but they're not. first, people centric. we serve veterans. that's their only mission. and veterans are at the center of the focus. and in that kind of a service oriented relationship, people count. people count. they must be trained. they must be well trained. they must be properly motivated and a great judge to eventually inspiring leadership. and that ms. miers on stability, to put in place the kind of leadership that will generate the first two points. next, results oriented.

we must be able to measure return on any as we make. if we can't measure, we won't combust. there are many good ideas who have come to me saying, mr. secretary, we need to do this. but if no one can lay at the business plan for when we take our precious resources invested in that way and show a return for veterans, frankly, we've withheld those decisions. finally, for that key. we need to look out five years to envision the va, we will need that point in terms of training, in terms of equipment and in terms of leadership. if we are going to better serve veterans than we do today, we have to have a long term book and then decide how we're going to get there over the next five years. so these three behaviors are focused on on the three key

priorities that we've been emphasizing for the past two years. you've heard them before. i've talked about that on previous visits. very simply, increased access, veterans access to va benefits and services now. reduce and ultimately eliminate disability claims in 24 team in finally and veteran homeless as by 2015. so those are the sort of three priorities for focused on. three fundamental behaviors that people centric, results oriented, forward-looking and three key priorities. access, backlog, homelessness. we have momentum in each of these initiatives and we expect to see a church of the next two years. on the 14th of february, president obama submitted his 2012 budget in 23rd team advanced appropriations request

to documents. and in doing so, kept his promise to care for those who have safeguarded the nation. his budget requests -- his budget request 100 dirty tube billion dollars in 2012, 61.9 billion of that is in discretionary funding, which is where health care is, what affects us knows. $70.3 billion in mandatory funding. our discretionary budget request represents an increase of $5.9 billion, many $10.6 billion increase in the 20 thank you to budget. to documents. while each document, the budget request and advanced appropriations request is important enough on their own. when you put them together, they are powerful in terms of energy, opportunity and continuity.

thanks to congress this screen tv for appropriations for you in the american legion worked so hard to get for us. so while vba benefit and nca cemeteries, make two other administrations, call it the departments and agencies are dealing with continuing resolution, dha, health care administration is fully funded for 2011 and delivering health care to veterans without interruption. [applause] this is your doing, so that applause is for you. it's often noted that less than 1% of americans serve in our military. those who do allow the rest of us to do an americans to bastinado southbank, i'll create, albert, who produced the rest of the world. hey, those who serve in uniform

help him leash are powerful and economic engine, enabling us to do what we've historically done and that's when. now i know the economy has lost a bit of sparkle at the moment, but i trust the instincts, the energy, creativity and intellect to the american people to get us back on course. that economy is coming back. president to bomb has challenged all of us to out innovate, at educate, alpo competition in this budget hopes veteran nba to our part. today our military remains operationally deployed in iraq and afghanistan. complex has been underway for most of the past decade. the burden on our mike to send all volunteer force in its families to accomplish every mission without failure, without fanfare, without complaint has

been enormous. we all know that. as they redeployed home and return to their communities, the nation must find ways to offer them the opportunity to add their substantial gain operationally, and their substantial skills, knowledge and attribute to the powerful economic engine i described in rage ever since discussion with you was about how to jumpstart jobs for veterans. the va's mission is crucial to their transition home. as president lincoln reminded us, 146 years ago we care. we care for those who have put in the battle and their spouses than were fans. those requirements and responsibilities have grown as we address some long-standing issues of past wars. we did this last year. if you recall agent orange, gulf

war illness, combat he tst were some of the decisions we took care of. at the same time, watch the injuries and illnesses from current conflicts grow significantly. these numbers will continue to rise for many years, maybe even decades after the last american combat and comes home from iraq in the sand. you understand this is reality. this is reality. you of all the good. and we have to ensure that the lessons of the past revisited. when the last combat and comes home, these requirements are still going to be building to look for your help and support and insights how to do our jobs. the va is a large organization with a corresponding large budgeted in diverse and complex mission. we provide health care, disability benefits, pensions, homeowner, life insurance, life

insurance, educational systems and we run the largest -- the nation's largest cemetery system, which by the way has outperformed every other enterprise in this country for the past decade, public or private, nonprofit or profit. for some ask, why is the va so large and complex? ways the federal government doing so many things for government? in my research demonstrates that pretty simple in theory. because in times past, those who were nations in the arms were often either unable to acquire or for those services on their own. no one would provide them. and so the va was mission to deliver the promises president in the applications of the american people. and very simply, that their

mission. a .4 million veterans receive medical care and the fed and by way of comparison, it will just point out in 2008 i arrived in january 2009. by the end of 2008, the number was 7.8 million. today is a .4 and this project due to be .6 in 2012, next year. in a period of four years, the number has grown about 800,009 project the numbers will continue to grow. there is another 14.3 million veterans and 35 million houses and mental children who don't receive care benefits from va, but still see themselves a veteran or parts of veterans families, whether or not they ever visit one of her medical centers or apply for disability. what i am suggesting is this is a large veteran population and

they expect us to get things right for the veteran producer. over the next two years, we intend to produce the following deliverables. homelessness. president obama strongly supports ending veterans homelessness by 2015. two years ago there were approximately 131,000 veterans on any given night who were counted as homeless. and i say approximately because these are estimates. today we estimate there are about 76,000 homeless veterans. we intend to take the number below 60,000 by june of next year. and in route to ending veterans homelessness by 2015. the 2012 budget includes $939 million to prevent and reduce homelessness amongst veterans, an increase of 17.5%

for $140 million over the 2011 budget. a comprehensive review is underway to use the a's in korea think and are underutilized holdings to house homeless or his veterans and their families. the va has identified by 94 sites, which will potentially add about 6300 unit housing through public-private ventures, using pas enhance to use this authority, an authority we have from the congress. [applause] so, where generating the housing unit that we need. this enhanced use dority comic eul is scheduled to lapse at the end of calendar year 2011 and as reauthorization by the congress to continue increasing housing for almost veterans and their

families. so we have placed a request before the congress to help us by extending the legislation. the most flexible and responsive housing option remains the voucher today announced the voucher that's collaborated on the housing and urban development department in the period the secretary done within a night endorsed the importance of the joint effort. hud vouchers at present our only option at the moment for housing veterans with families were within veterans of children. our only option is hud -- and not fight so important to us. let me touch on the claims backlog. in 2000 we produced 977,000 claims decisions for the first time ever. it was a record for us. but then we took in a million claims returns. in 2010 for the first time, we produced a million claims decisions going out the door,

but took in 1.2 million claims. they fear we are programmed to receive somewhere between 1.4 m. 1.5 million claims. this growth is tied in part to the economic downturn. the numbers are large and merely hiring more claims processes won't give us the added capability to dominate this group pattern. look at incrementally better, but it doesn't allow us to handle numbers coming in as well as take down the backlog. we must automate. we must automate we must do it quickly. the 2012 budget is $2 billion, an increase of three and $30 million or 19.8% over the 2011 -- 2010 budget. and these funds are needed to get us out of paper into

electronic processing comes something that should've happened in the va decades ago. [applause] automation -- [applause] the power of automation, you know, part of our challenge is getting not just the sheer numbers, but also the quality of decision, accuracy of decision being made. and our quality right now is about 84%. it's not good enough. he needs to be about 90%. if you're the dogs, you know, an 800 batting average is okay, but why not the boston red socks. with the va we've got to get the number 290%. here is that automation allows to do. we have terrific claims processes who have been doing this for 20, 30 years. they have very little experience the quality positions is extremely high. we have youngsters who've been

in the program two or three years and are still learning, but sheer demented numbers we have to put them online, supervised by similar senior folks. automation allows you to take the experience of the third-year veteran and put it into a rules-based pension and so that the three year experience has the benefit of that kind of experience with the data is provided to push a button. you get a decision that would've been driven driven by the log time employee. so that's why we have to automate. we have a host of promising options being piloted today. we expect a good number to begin paying off next year as we begin moving to fully automate the disability claims process. the president's budget request for vba benefits administration provides $140 billion to complete the testing and fielding of our paperless system. but, dbms, an acronym you'll

hear more of in the future. but that's where there have it. we piloted -- began piloting in november 2010 in providence rhode island. it looks great. we hope to have the way not nationally in 2012 and then we'll see what numbers provide. the g.i. bill -- the budget request supports expanded eligibility for post g.i. benefits plan including non-college degree programs such as on-the-job training, flight training, correspondence courses among others. those acknowledgment that not every youngster was decent in a college classroom for four years. and before going to provide the opportunity for a college degree to some of our youngsters, we need to provide options for others who want to go to work. and here the vocational training business cakes and family have youngsters who want to go into carpentry or plumbing for the

schoolwork. we need to provide them the opportunity not to come as apprentices, but maybe well on their way to masterless theme. and so, we've provided equity in the system. it also fully fund -- the budget funds our nation and payment process for the new g.i. bill by the end of this year, speeding to wish them housing payments to eligible veterans into october of 2010 last year, the va has invested over $7 billion in tuition housing stays in to more than 423,000 student veterans in family members. banal educational initiatives are together, the government g.i. bill and vocation rehab training over a hundred thousand of our young veteran and family members are in college. so my report to you that the

program is working thinks that congress' generosity and thanks decrease support of organizations like the american legion. this budget seeks nearly $51 billion for medical care that none of that exploit 2 billion for critically required to health programs, 60 billion directly to suicide prevention initiative celeb. most of you know we have a suicide prevention hotline in holiday glut, new york, set up in 2008 as i recall. it's taken in over 400,000 phone calls to this point in their love for 11 to suicide and is for and about 10 by the good folks on the phone line. [applause] inside those 11,000 people who are definitively been held in

saved by the best and. our focus is on treatment for posttraumatic stress, 20 brain injury and other psychological and cognitive health requirement as well as greater collaboration between the department of defense in the va to seamlessly provide mental health care. and this is something secretary gates and i personally invested in. in addition to these major initiatives with the new budget recognizes the responsibilities and financial burdens assumed by caregivers, provides funding for specialized training, health care and mental health services. it's hard to overstate the tremendous sacrifices they make everyday to help on the drink. they are stored partners in helping us with the rehabilitation of veteran as someone who speaks or personal experience here, we can never

say thank you enough or provide enough assistant to caregivers. so that's part of the budget as well. the new budget also invests in the health care care needs of women veterans wherever they seek care. we know these numbers will continue to grow and we want to get out ahead of that growth and ensure we have both programs and facilities as well as research underway before their numbers become more significant. it also provides operations maintenance funding to our national cemeteries administration to establish a new standard for providing nearly 90% of the better population, a burial site within 75 minutes of their homes. over time, that distance in population has shrunk. at one time it was much larger and we are now down to what and 75 miles of any population of 80,000 veterans -- our goal is

to have a cemetery within 75 miles of their home. the 2012 budget continues robust funding for rural health initiatives that we funded in 2009, 10 and 11. let me close with a reminder. i've talked about what we're trying to not just to handle today's programs, but how to be ready five years from now to provide even better service to a larger and more complex set of requirements that veterans have. so let me close with a reminder that we look that far into the future, why va must look behind you then position it felt for its responsibilities over the coming decade. i'm 26 march, 2010, about a year ago in a couple days, marine corporal todd vesely walking

point for afghanistan trip to 40-pound pressure detonated ied improvised explosive device, ripped off his body armor. the blast was so powerful that it picked up his body armor and helmet, tore off his right leg and left hand and eventually his left leg and right arm had to be removed as well. amazingly resilient through innumerable surgeries, ted nicely as one of the nation's three quadruple amputees out of iraq and afghanistan. the "washington post" recently told this incredible story about survival, about adjustment, about love, about support. but at its core, the article described the marine -- a young marine with the heart of a lion. what shines through all of this are todd vasiliev is humility,

his own personal strength appeared to her and an incredibly positive attitude that comes from someplace deep in my. in his words, i remember screaming once or twice coming of this bloodcurdling screams they do in the movies? he recounted of the moments immediately after the ied went off. i remember thinking to myself, don't do it again because this is the last image that these boys are going to have a few in their heads, so stay strong and after that i showed up. all that incredible pain, right? at their reunion at bethesda, his 24-year-old wife crystal, every bit as tough as there has been asked if he knew his legs are missing any city did. she then asked him if he knew his hands were also miss. he said no.

he was quiet for a moment. and then i asked, did anybody else get hurt? chrystal said no and his response was one word. good. during an awards ceremony with members of his unit present, but donna's battalion commander said that he hoped his own children might one day have the courage of corporal todd nicely. and when it was thoughts turn to speak, he said simply, i'd like to thank everybody. i like to thank my platoon for getting me back. if you work for you guys, i don't think i'd be alive today. other than that, i don't really have much more to say. i love you guys. todd nicely with toughness, his courage, concerned for squad mates, even when his own life hung in the balance and is quite